THE Australian Transport Safety Bureau says floodwater caused December’s derailment east of Julia Creek by scouring ballast and formation thus weakening the track which could not support the weight of the train.
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ATSB’s preliminary investigation said the accident occurred at 9.33am, December 27 to Aurizon train 9T92 carrying 819,000 litres of sulphuric acid from Townsville to Cloncurry.
The line was soaking due to a tropical low and earlier train crews reported heavy rain in the area with Townsville Network Control reporting a high water alarm at Holy Joe Creek west of Julia Creek. Track inspectors went to Holy Joe Creek and found the track fit for service.
Meanwhile train 9T92 approached Julia Creek from the east, with the crew seeing water everywhere.
They slowed down at Spellary Creek (32km east of town) to avoid light debris over the line from earlier floodwaters which they reported and continued towards Quarrels.
The track between Quarrels and Julia Creek was not identified as a flooding spot so the driver started increasing speed to the maximum 60kph. As they got to 51 kph, a crew member saw a washout 45 metres ahead and shouted out a warning.
The driver immediately moved the throttle to idle however it was too late to avoid impact.
The crew felt the locomotive bounce and water splashed on the windscreen before the train derailed and tipped over.
The crew was ejected from their seats and sustained minor injuries.
Floodwaters immediately entered the cabin and the crew were unable to break the front windscreen using the emergency hammer.
Instead they climbed up and out of the side window where they saw an acid plume rising from a derailed tanker.
With no breathing apparatus they decided to evacuate before the wind changed direction, walking along the track towards Julia Creek.
After 800m they found an access path to the Flinders Hwy where they flagged down a passing motorist.
They borrowed the motorist’s mobile and contacted Aurizon at Cloncurry to tell emergency services who arrived 20 minutes later.
Due to flooding it wasn’t until 6.45pm that an Incitec Pivot emergency response team could arrive from Phosphate Hill.
Recovery operations of 60,800 litres of spilled sulphuric acid continued for several weeks.
